Orifice plates

ABSTRACT

Implementations of an orifice plate configured to regulate a fluid flow are provided. An example orifice plate is configured to be positioned in a conduit and comprises a plurality of holes that extend through the orifice plate. The plurality of holes are arranged to form a criss-crossing pattern of spiral layouts configured to regulate a fluid flow passing therethrough. The number of clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number and the number of counter-clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number. In some implementations, each spiral layout is a logarithmic spiral. In some implementations, each hole of the plurality of holes is a contoured conical shape extending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is larger in diameter than the outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application claiming the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/814,962, filed on Mar. 10, 2020, the entirety ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of an orifice plateconfigured to regulate a fluid flow. In particular, the presentdisclosure is directed to implementations of an orifice plate comprisinga plurality of holes positioned to form one or more spiral arrangements.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,765, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety, discloses an orifice plate for use in a conduit throughwhich fluid flows.

As disclosed in the '765 patent, in general, the variation of a processvariable across an orifice plate's surface introduces inefficiencies ina fluid flow. For example, prior art orifice plates generally experiencefairly large pressure losses as a fluid flows from one side of the plateto the other. Unfortunately, to handle such large pressure losses,larger and more expensive fluid pumps are used. Also, pressure potentialin prior art orifice plates is generally consumed by eddy turbulencethat is random and chaotic. These eddy formations about the orificeplate reduce linearity and repeatability of any process variablemeasurements, thereby causing a reduction in measurement accuracy.Reduced measurement accuracy leads to processes that are highly variablewhich, in turn, increases process costs due to greater equipmentoperational margins that must be maintained. If pressure can beequalized or balanced across the surface area of an orifice plate, therandom and chaotic eddy formations may be greatly reduced. Thus, bybalancing the flow with respect to the measured process variable, theaccuracy of process variable measurement may be improved and the cost oftaking such measurements may be reduced.

An orifice plate according to the '765 patent addresses these issues.More particularly, an orifice plate according to the '765 patent maybalance one or more process variables associated with a fluid flowpassing through the orifice plate. Thus, an orifice plate according tothe '765 patent may improve repeatability, linearity, and reduction ofpressure loss.

However, the '765 patent does not teach how to construct an orificeplate configured to limit pipe and plate noise, erosion, cavitation,shear stress, etc. while maximizing system pressure loss, and limitingflow to required values. Further, the '765 patent does not teach how tomanufacture an orifice plate configured to optimize process variablemeasurements, minimize system pressure drop, recover pressure, recoverenergy, and reduce noise and other inefficiencies within a system usingan orifice plate comprising a plurality of holes positioned to form oneor more spiral layouts. Each spiral layout consisting of a series ofholes arranged to form a spiral.

Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for the orifice platesdisclosed herein. It is to the provision of one or more orifice platesconfigured to address these needs, and others, that the presentinvention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Implementations of an orifice plate configured to regulate a fluid floware provided. An orifice plate is configured to be positioned in aconduit and extend across a transverse cross-section thereof. Theorifice plate comprises a plurality of holes that extend therethrough.The plurality of holes are arranged to form a criss-crossing pattern ofspiral layouts configured to regulate a fluid flow passing therethrough.The number of clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number and thenumber of counter-clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number. Insome implementations, each spiral layout is a logarithmic spiral.

Each hole of an office plate includes an inlet and an outlet. In someimplementations, each hole has a contoured conical shape extendingbetween the inlet and the outlet, the inlet is larger in diameter thanthe outlet. The radius of each hole may be a linear radius having aconstant growth factor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an example orifice plate configured according to theprinciples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates another example orifice plate configured accordingto the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C illustrates yet another example orifice plate configuredaccording to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the orifice plate shown inFIG. 1A, taken along line 2-2.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate other example orifice plates configured accordingto the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates still yet another example orifice plate configuredaccording to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate example inlet and/or outlet shapes.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of an orifice plate configured to regulate a fluid floware provided. As used herein, the term “orifice plate” refers to anystructural element (e.g., a plate, a disk, etc.) having a hole patternformed therethrough that is adapted to be installed in a fluid flow suchthat the fluid passes through the orifice plate's hole pattern. The holepattern of an orifice plate, according to the present disclosure,comprises a plurality of holes arranged to form one or more spirallayouts. The hole pattern of an orifice plate can be configured to, forexample, improve process variable measurement(s), minimize systempressure drop, maximize system pressure drop, recover pressure, recoverenergy, reduce noise and other inefficiencies within the system, or acombination thereof. In this way, as non-limiting examples, an orificeplate can be configured for use as a restriction orifice plate, a flowconditioning plate, a flow measurement plate, a flow silencing plate, ora suitable combination thereof.

An orifice plate according to the present invention can be securedbetween two flanges of a conduit (e.g., a pipe). In this way, theorifice plate secured between the flanges can be used to regulate (e.g.,condition) the fluid flow passing through the conduit. Such conduits,and the joining thereof, are well known to those of ordinary skill inthe art and are not limitations of the present invention.

An orifice plate can be sized and/or shaped to work with any size and/orshape of conduit. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, an orifice plate 100can be circular for installation in a cylindrical conduit. In someimplementations, an orifice plate includes a peripheral mounting regionthat is captured between flanges of a conduit.

FIGS. 1A-1C, 3A-3B, and 4 illustrate example implementations of anorifice plate according to the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, in some implementations, an orifice plate 100is configured to be positioned in a conduit and extend across atransverse cross-section thereof. The orifice plate 100 comprises aplurality of holes 110 that extend therethrough. The plurality of holes110 are distributed along an imaginary spiral 112 defined by dashedlines to form a spiral layout 122. The spiral layout 122 consists of aseries of holes 110, the imaginary spiral 112 passing through the centerof each hole 110. In some implementations, the imaginary spiral 112, andthereby the spiral layout 122, is a logarithmic spiral having a growthfactor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), or substantially 1.618 for everyquarter turn (i.e., the imaginary spiral 112 gets wider by a factor ofφ, or substantially 1.618, for every quarter turn).

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, each hole 110 in the orifice plate 100 iscircular. In some implementations, each hole 110 of an orifice plate 100may be another shape (e.g., an arc-shaped slot, a V-shaped hole, etc.).The shape of each hole 110 formed in an orifice plate 100 depends on theproperties (e.g., density, viscosity, shear stress limits, pressurepulse limits, etc.) of the fluid flow (e.g., gas, liquid, solid, or acombination thereof) that the orifice plate 100 is configured toregulate.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the spiral layout 122 extends from a centralcircular region 106 of the orifice plate 100. In some implementations, afirst hole 110 of the spiral layout 122 extends through the centralcircular region 106 of the orifice plate 100, each subsequent hole 110is positioned adjacent the preceding hole 110 to form the spiral layout122. In some implementations, there may be no hole extending through thecentral circular region 106 of an orifice plate 100 (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1A, in some implementations, the plurality of holes 110that form the spiral layout 122 each have an equivalent diameter.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, in some implementations, the plurality ofholes 110 that form the spiral layout 122 each have a differentdiameter.

As shown in FIG. 1B, in some implementations, the first hole 110 of thespiral layout 122 has the smallest diameter and each subsequent hole 110distributed along the imaginary spiral 112 has a larger diameter thanthe preceding hole 110 (see e.g., FIG. 1B). In this way, the orificeplate 100 is configured to force a fluid flow towards the outside of theconduit as it passes through the plurality of holes 110. In someimplementations, the diameter of each hole 110, subsequent to the firsthole 110, increases by a factor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), orsubstantially 1.618 (i.e., the diameter of each subsequent hole 110 islarger, by a factor of 1.618, than is the preceding hole 110).

As shown in FIG. 1C, in some implementations, the first hole 110 of thespiral layout 122 has the largest diameter and each subsequent hole 110distributed along the imaginary spiral 112 has a smaller diameter thanthe preceding hole 110 (see, e.g., FIG. 1C). In this way, the orificeplate 100 is configured to force a fluid flow towards the center of theconduit as it passes through the plurality of holes 110. In someimplementations, the diameter of each hole 110, subsequent to the firsthole 110, decreases by a factor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), orsubstantially 1.618 (i.e., the diameter of each subsequent hole 110 issmaller, by a factor of ˜1.618, than is the preceding hole 110).

As shown in FIG. 2 , each hole 110 of an orifice plate 100 includes aninlet 118 and an outlet 120. In some implementations, each hole 110 hasa contoured conical shape wherein the inlet 118 has a larger diameterthan the outlet 120. This conical shape of each hole 110 is used tooptimize performance of an orifice plate 100 for use with a variety ofsingle-phase fluids, multi-phase fluids, or a combination thereof. Insome implementations, the contoured conical shape of each hole 110 has aradius (e.g., a linear radius as shown in FIG. 2 ). In someimplementations, the linear radius of the hole 110 has a constant growthfactor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), or substantially 1.618. In someimplementations, the contoured conical shape of the hole 110 shown inFIG. 2 has been tested and shown to provide a discharge coefficient of0.96 or higher.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, in some implementations, the inlets 118 ofadjacent holes 110 may touch, but do not overlap. In practice, due tomanufacturing considerations, the inlets 118 of adjacent holes 110 are0.03″, or further, apart. In some implementations, the inlets 118 of twoor more adjacent holes 110 may overlap (see, e.g., FIG. 3B). Becausefluid flow symmetry is maintained by the spiral layout(s), the overlapof two or more adjacent inlets does not affect the performance of anorifice plate configured according to the principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate other example implementations of an orificeplate 300 according to the present disclosure. In some implementations,the orifice plate 300 is similar to the orifice plates 100 discussedabove, in particular the orifice plate 100 shown in FIG. 1A, but theplurality of holes 310 are arranged to form three spiral layouts 322,324, 326. Each spiral layout 322, 324, 326 consists of a series of holes310 arranged to form a spiral shape.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in some implementations, the plurality ofholes 310 in the orifice plate 300 are distributed along three imaginaryspirals 312, 314, 316 defined by dashed lines to form three spirallayouts 322, 324, 326. Each of the imaginary spirals 312, 314, 316, andthereby each spiral layout, may be a logarithmic spiral having a growthfactor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), or substantially 1.618 for everyquarter turn (i.e., each imaginary spiral 312, 314, 316 gets wider by afactor of 1.618 for every quarter turn).

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each imaginary spiral 312, 314, 316, andits associated spiral layout, emanate from a central circular region 306of the orifice plate 300. The first imaginary spiral 312 passes throughthe center of each hole 310 that makes up the first spiral layout 322,the second imaginary spiral 314 passes through the center of each hole310 that makes up the second spiral layout 324, and the third imaginaryspiral 316 passes through the center of each hole 310 that makes up thethird spiral layout 326.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in some implementations, a first hole 310of the first spiral layout 322 extends through the central circularregion 306 of the orifice plate 300, each subsequent hole 310 ispositioned adjacent the preceding hole 310 to form the spiral layout322; a first hole of the second spiral layout 324 is offset from thecentral circular region 306, each subsequent hole 310 is positionedadjacent the preceding hole 310 to form the spiral layout 324; and afirst hole of the third spiral layout 326 is offset from the centralcircular region 306, each subsequent hole 310 is positioned adjacent thepreceding hole 310 to form the spiral layout 326.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the plurality of holes 310 arranged to formthe spiral layouts 322, 324, 326 each have an equivalent diameter. Insome implementations, one or more of the holes 310 may have a differentdiameter (not shown).

As described above in connection with the hole 110 shown in FIG. 2 ,each hole 310 in an orifice plate 300 may have a contoured conicalshape. In some implementations, the contoured conical shape of each hole310 has a radius (e.g., a linear radius as shown in FIG. 2 ). In someimplementations, the linear radius of the hole 310 has a constant growthfactor of φ (i.e., the golden ratio), or substantially 1.618.

It should be understood that, in some implementations, an orifice platemay have a plurality of holes therein that are arranged into more thanthree spiral layouts 322, 324, 326. In general, the number of holes inan orifice plate, the number of spiral layouts, and the distribution ofholes forming each spiral layout depends on how a flow profile needs tolook after it exits (or passes through) the orifice plate. If an orificeplate is to be manufactured with more than three spiral layouts, thenumber of spiral layouts may be a Fibonacci number (e.g., 5, 8, 13, 21,34, etc.).

FIG. 4 illustrates another example implementation of an orifice plate400 according to the present disclosure. In some implementations, theorifice plate 400 is similar to the orifice plates 100, 300 discussedabove but the plurality of holes 410 are arranged to form acriss-crossing pattern of spiral layouts (e.g., a phyllotactic pattern).The number of clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number and thenumber of counter-clockwise spiral layouts is a Fibonacci number. Insome implementations, the hole pattern of the orifice plate 400 isconfigured to maximize the number of holes therein.

An orifice plate Beta Ratio (β) is the ratio of the combined insidediameters (d) of the holes (e.g., holes 110, 310, 410) in an orificeplate (e.g., orifice plates 100, 300, 400) to the inside diameter of aconduit (D) (i.e., β=d/D). Typically, the orifice plate Beta Ratio (I)ranges between 0.05 to 0.95. In some implementations, an orifice plate's(e.g., orifice plate 100, 300, 400) efficiency is limited by the orificeplate Beta Ratio (β). Thus, when an orifice plate is being fabricated,the hole layout may be tied to a desired orifice plate Beta Ratio (β).Or, put another way, a desired orifice plate Beta Ratio (I) may be usedto determine the number and diameter of the holes put in an orificeplate. A desired orifice plate Beta Ratio (β) being a function of enduse (i.e., the conduit in which the orifice plate is to be positionedand the fluid flow it is being configured to regulate). Therefore, insome implementations, it may be desirable to configure an orifice plateto maximize the Beta Ratio (β) (see, e.g., the orifice plate 400 shownFIG. 4 ).

As an example, the spacing between the spiral layouts 322, 324, 326shown in FIG. 3A positions the plurality of holes 310 in the orificeplate 300 to provide a moderate (˜0.4) to high Beta Ratio (˜0.7). Asanother example, the spacing between the spiral layouts 322, 324, 326shown in FIG. 3B positions the plurality of holes 310 in the orificeplate 300 to provide a low (˜0.1) to moderate Beta Ratio (˜0.4). As yetanother example, the criss-crossing pattern of spiral layouts shown inFIG. 4 positions the plurality of holes 410 in the orifice plate toprovide a high (˜0.7) to very high Beta Ratio (˜0.95).

When an orifice plate is being configured (or adapted) for use with aparticular conduit and fluid flow, the desired Beta Ratio (β) and theinside diameter (D) of the conduit may be used to calculate a combinedhole diameter (d). This value (d) is equal, or substantially equal, tothe sum of the diameters of the holes that should be placed in theorifice plate. A person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefitof the present disclosure, could use this value (d) to position aplurality of holes, having a combined inside diameter equal to (d), inan orifice plate to form one or more spiral arrangements as describedabove.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5E, in some implementations, the inlet and/or theoutlet of each hole 110, 310, 410 may be shaped to optimize performanceof an orifice plate 100, 300, 400 for use regulating the flow ofsingle-phase and/or multiphase fluids. Example shapes for an inletand/or an outlet include, but are not limited to, a knife edge 550 (see,e.g., FIG. 5A), a contoured edge 552 (see, e.g., FIG. 5B), ablunt/square edge 554 (see, e.g., FIG. 5C), tapered/beveled edges 556(see, e.g., FIG. 5D), or bi-directional contoured edges 558 (see, e.g.,FIG. 5E).

In some implementations, knife edge 550 inlet and/or outlet shapes havea high k (>1). In some implementations, blunt/square edge 554 inletand/or outlet shapes have a moderate to high k. In some implementations,tapered/beveled edge 556 inlet and/or outlet shapes have a moderate tolow k. In some implementations, contoured 552 inlet and/or outlet shapesmay have a low to very low k (<<1). As would be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art, as “k” increases, permanent pressure loss inthe system increases.

Orifice plate 100, 300, 400 inlet and/or outlet shapes can affectpressure loss, noise, erosion, cavitation, accuracy of process variablemeasurement, etc. In some implementations, low k value shapes arepreferred for measurement, and high k value shapes are preferred forrestriction orifice plates. In some implementations, for systemsrequiring low noise, cavitation, erosion, etc., moderate k value shapesare preferred.

In some implementations, an orifice plate 100, 300, 400 constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure may accommodatebi-directional flow within a conduit, pipe, etc. Special calibrationsand correction factors may be required to meet specifications. In someimplementations, the holes of an orifice plate optimized forbi-directional flow may have bi-directional contoured edges (see, e.g.,FIG. 5E). In this way, the holes may be configured to facilitatebi-directional flow.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or“implementation” or words of similar import means that a particulardescribed feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at leastone embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in someimplementations” or a phrase of similar import in various placesthroughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combinedin any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the abovedescription, numerous specific details are provided for a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the inventioncan be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or withother methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown ordescribed in detail.

While operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order,this should not be understood as requiring that such operations beperformed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or thatall illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An orifice plate configured to bepositioned in a conduit and extend across a transverse cross-sectionthereof, the orifice plate comprising: a plurality of holes that extendthrough the orifice plate, the plurality of holes are arranged to form acriss-crossing pattern of spiral layouts configured to regulate a fluidflow passing therethrough; wherein the number of clockwise spirallayouts is a Fibonacci number and the number of counter-clockwise spirallayouts is a Fibonacci number.
 2. The orifice plate of claim 1, whereineach spiral layout is a logarithmic spiral.
 3. The orifice plate ofclaim 2, wherein each spiral layout has a growth factor of substantially1.618 for each quarter turn.
 4. The orifice plate of claim 1, whereineach hole of the plurality of holes is a contoured conical shapeextending between an inlet and an outlet, the inlet is larger indiameter than the outlet.
 5. The orifice plate of claim 4, wherein eachhole of the plurality of holes has a linear radius having a constantgrowth factor.
 6. The orifice plate of claim 5, wherein the constantgrowth factor is substantially 1.618.